Toronto has never been short on culture. But this spring, the city is set to level up with the return of the Departure Festival + Conference, formerly known as Canadian Music Week. Running from Monday, May 4, until Sunday, May 10, Departure 2026 isn’t just another festival—it’s a full-scale cultural takeover of downtown Toronto. Think music, media, sports, tech, and creative industries converging across more than 40 venues, from the historic St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts to the grand Fairmont Royal York, the acoustically pristine Koerner Hall, and the purpose-built hub Departure House in the heart of the city at 58 Berkeley Street.
“Departure continues to unite the most innovative voices across industries, and this year’s lineup reflects the global reach and creative excellence that define our community,” says Kevin Barton, Executive Producer at Departure Festival + Conference. “We’re proud to deliver a platform where creative ideas are shared to drive meaningful growth in our industry.”
Departure’s biggest flex is its range. Over the course of a week, the festival transforms Toronto into a living, breathing network of creativity that includes live performances, conference talks, podcast tapings, screenings, networking sessions, and everything in between. Among the must-see speakers at activations and panels across the city: Oscar-winning director and KPop Demon Hunters creator Maggie Kang; the creative minds behind the Heated Rivalry soundtrack—Jacob Tierney, Peter Peter, and Scotty Taylor; and award-winning entertainer Lilly Singh, all offering insights that are as real as it gets.
Departure is where the next wave of culture gets its first real showcase. And if you’re tapped into what’s next, this is where you need to be.
The Honours: a night where icons get their flowers
If there’s one night to circle, it’s Thursday, May 7. Departure Honours, presented by Ticketmaster, takes over Koerner Hall for a star-studded celebration of creative excellence.
The 2026 honourees include Grammy-winning icon Sarah McLachlan, visionary director Maggie Kang, acclaimed writer-director-producer Jacob Tierney, legendary manager Bruce Allen, cultural force The Remix Project, and multi-hyphenate powerhouse Lilly Singh.
It’s not just an awards show—it’s a rare moment where the industry pauses to recognize the people shaping it. And with tickets starting at $59.50, it’s one of the most accessible ways to witness that level of talent in one room.
You can secure your spot and pick up Departure Honours tickets right here.
Complex Canada x The Office Movers: a conversation you don’t want to miss
In a move that feels tailor-made for the moment, Departure is linking up with Complex Canada for a live, in-depth conversation with The Office Movers—the creative duo Jermaine Richards and Trevaunn Richards.
If you’ve been paying attention, you already know this pair’s influence runs deep. What started as viral content has evolved into Random Order Studios, a full-fledged creative ecosystem.
This session pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build something sustainable in today’s creator economy—touching on identity, representation, monetization, and staying authentic while scaling up.
“I've followed Jermaine and Trevaunn on YouTube over the years, and seeing The Office Movers on Crave Canada was proof for many creatives that it’s possible to bring a big idea to life,” says Complex Canada’s Social Editor Imani Walker, who is hosting the panel on Wednesday, May 6, at 2:30 pm at the Bluma Appel Theatre (St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts). “I’m honoured to speak with them at the Departure Festival and I look forward to moderating their panel because their story is such an integral part of Canadian culture.”
According to Walker, this will be a conversation that doesn’t just inspire—it will offer up a blueprint.
The rise of the Summit era
New for 2026, Departure is introducing Summits, which are focused, single-day sessions that are designed to go deeper on specific industries.
Hosted at Departure House, each of the four Summits—Creator, Live Music, Sync, and Sports—acts as its own ecosystem, bringing together insiders and innovators for high-impact conversations and networking.
Expect heavy hitters like veteran rock agent Nick Storch, acclaimed music supervisor Mary Ramos (whose credits include multiple Quentin Tarantino films), choreographer and recurring guest judge on Canada's Drag Race Hollywood Jade, and, again, Lilly Singh, who continues to expand her reach, including her role as Chief Hype Officer and owner of Canada’s first WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo.
These aren’t surface-level panels—they’re deep dives into how industries are evolving right now.
Expanding to the big screen
The festival also expands its film programming with an advanced screening of Boots Riley’s new film I Love Boosters, starring Keke Palmer and Naomi Ackie, Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience, the Canadian Premiere of Power Ballad starring Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd, and special Q&A screenings of Like Ah Boss: Journey of a Soca King with Machel Montano and Bif Naked: A Documentary with a live performance from Bif Naked.
The sound of what’s next
Of course, none of this works without music. Departure’s Music Showcases are back for 2026 and are bigger than ever—with more than 100 emerging artists such as the Baby G, Cassette, Painted Lady, and many more performing at downtown Toronto bars and venues across the city throughout the festival. Pulled from thousands of global submissions, the lineup is a snapshot of the future of sound.
And this year, there’s a new layer: the Rising Sound Artists initiative. Six acts—Chloe Tang, Bianca Espino, Tyra Jutai, the neverminds, Cherrykim, and Kyle Wildfern—have been selected to provide an elevated experience that goes beyond performance. It’s a dedicated spotlight that reflects Departure’s commitment to not only showcase emerging talent but to actively amplify the next generation of creative voices. Beyond performing at a dedicated showcase, these six acts will be immersed in a high-impact circuit of public spotlights and exclusive industry access, from bespoke professional development sessions to private industry mixers and red carpet moments.
Additionally, the Departure Festival will present Choir! Choir! Choir! Angel: An Epic Singalong on Wednesday, May 6, at Massey Hall. This will be a powerful, fully participatory live experience where the audience becomes the choir. The evening will feature a selection of surprise songs before culminating in a once-in-a-lifetime performance of “Angel,” featuring special guest Sarah McLachlan.
The festival also activates Toronto streets with live music takeovers, including a multi-space takeover on Geary Avenue from Friday, May 8 thru Sunday, May 10; as well as Casa Fest, the ultimate outdoor party and music festival with a stacked lineup of performers, on Saturday, May 9 at CityView Lot; and the Rock Symphony at Casa Loma on Saturday, May 9, when legendary rock classics come to life.
Explore the full Departure Music Showcases lineup right here.
A city-wide takeover
What sets Departure apart is its scale—and how seamlessly it integrates into the city. Instead of being confined to a single venue, it unfolds across Toronto, turning the city itself into a campus. You could be catching a panel in the morning, a podcast taping in the afternoon, and a breakout artist performance at night—all within a few blocks.
Toronto has always been a city that punches above its weight culturally. Departure is proof of that—and then some. And come May, it’s where everything connects. If you want to map out your week, the full Departure Festival event schedule is right here.
The Departure Festival + Conference takes place Monday, May 4, to Sunday, May 10, 2026, in the heart of downtown Toronto. The full schedule, including conference panels, summits, performances, and activations, is available at departureto.com. Tickets and passes are available now at departureto.com.
